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David Amess latest: Priti Patel says MPs ‘cannot be cowed by any individual’ David Amess latest: Priti Patel says MPs ‘cannot be cowed by any individual’
(32 minutes later)
Patel was speaking in Leigh-on-Sea where PM earlier laid wreath at front of Belfairs Methodist church, where Tory MP was fatally stabbed on FridayPatel was speaking in Leigh-on-Sea where PM earlier laid wreath at front of Belfairs Methodist church, where Tory MP was fatally stabbed on Friday
Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer has tweeted a tribute to Sir David Amess today.
Labour MP Naz Shah, who has previously been targeted with racist abuse, said there was “no right or wrong answer” over whether or not MPs should continue holding their surgeries.
Ms Shah, who represents the Bradford West constituency, told PA Media:
She added that she had been contacted by officers who are a part of Operation Bridger, a nationwide police protective security operation, and they had been “amazing” towards her.
However, she declined to say what measures were being taken to protect her.
“For me, the more we talk about what measures we’re taking, the more it raises our risk,” she said.
Former minister Chris Skidmore said he has continued to hold face-to-face constituency surgeries despite someone previously being put behind bars for threatening to kill him, PA Media reports.
The Conservative MP for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire said he holds two types of surgeries: one where verified constituents book to see him at his office and a second where he holds drop-in sessions, including at supermarkets where shoppers are invited to talk to their MP over the shop tannoy.
Skidmore, a former universities minister, said:
PA Media reports that a joint statement from all of Southend’s mosques has condemned the fatal stabbing of David Amess as an “indefensible atrocity”.
Faith leaders said the father-of-five was an “upstanding friend to our Muslim community” and attended key events, including weddings, mosque openings and the launch of the town’s first Muslim Scout group.
In the statement published on the Essex Jamme Masjid website, on behalf of “all Southend mosques”, they said their thoughts and prayers were with Amess’s family, friends and colleagues.
It read:
The Conservative MP David Davis told Sky News he supports constituents continuing to meet their MPs face-to-face and is against pausing surgeries.
Many floral tributes to Sir David Amess have had personal messages of thanks for the work he did for the community and his support for issues including animal welfare.Many floral tributes to Sir David Amess have had personal messages of thanks for the work he did for the community and his support for issues including animal welfare.
PA Media reports that an Iranian opposition group has paid tribute to Sir David Amess, describing the MP as a “human rights champion” and an “enemy of many dictators”.PA Media reports that an Iranian opposition group has paid tribute to Sir David Amess, describing the MP as a “human rights champion” and an “enemy of many dictators”.
Hossein Abedini was among several members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran who laid flowers and framed photos of Amess near Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP was stabbed to death.Hossein Abedini was among several members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran who laid flowers and framed photos of Amess near Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP was stabbed to death.
Abedini told PA Media:Abedini told PA Media:
As part of this, Amess had recently called on the government to ban Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric, from attending the Cop26 global climate summit in Glasgow, Abedini said.As part of this, Amess had recently called on the government to ban Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric, from attending the Cop26 global climate summit in Glasgow, Abedini said.
Yesterday Abedini had paid tribute to Amess.Yesterday Abedini had paid tribute to Amess.
Dr Kieran Mullan, the Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also held his constituency surgery today.Dr Kieran Mullan, the Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also held his constituency surgery today.
He tweeted:He tweeted:
Alec Shelbrooke was among the MPs who held constituency surgeries as usual on Saturday.Alec Shelbrooke was among the MPs who held constituency surgeries as usual on Saturday.
The Conservative MP tweeted:The Conservative MP tweeted:
The Conservative MP Theresa Villiers describes the death of Amess as “shocking and appalling” in an interview with Sky News.The Conservative MP Theresa Villiers describes the death of Amess as “shocking and appalling” in an interview with Sky News.
She spoke of his kindness and that it is “such a great loss”.She spoke of his kindness and that it is “such a great loss”.
Villiers added: “He was just very kind. If MPs went through a rough patch he would be the one to be there to be supportive.”Villiers added: “He was just very kind. If MPs went through a rough patch he would be the one to be there to be supportive.”
PA Media reports that MPs have been tweeting about the constituent surgeries they held today.PA Media reports that MPs have been tweeting about the constituent surgeries they held today.
Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire, also held a surgery on Saturday alongside his Conservative colleague from the Welsh parliament, Russell George.Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire, also held a surgery on Saturday alongside his Conservative colleague from the Welsh parliament, Russell George.
Williams tweeted:Williams tweeted:
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has tweeted a tribute today to Sir David Amess.The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has tweeted a tribute today to Sir David Amess.
Rev Steve Tinning of the Leigh Road Baptist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, who worked extensively with David Amess told the BBC:Rev Steve Tinning of the Leigh Road Baptist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, who worked extensively with David Amess told the BBC:
He added:He added:
Amess, Tinning said, had recently won a raffle prize at an event held at his church.Amess, Tinning said, had recently won a raffle prize at an event held at his church.
Benny Wenda, the West Papuan independence leader, has paid tribute to David Amess, who was one of the first MPs to sign a declaration for the territory to be freed from Indonesian rule.Benny Wenda, the West Papuan independence leader, has paid tribute to David Amess, who was one of the first MPs to sign a declaration for the territory to be freed from Indonesian rule.
The killing of David Amess has shown how “no member of parliament is safe”, David Mellor, the Conservative former government minister, has told Sky News.
Mellor paid tribute to “a delightful man”, a “strong Thatcherite” who was content to remain on the Conservative backbenches.
“Basically he was an ideal colleague,” Mellor said. “I don’t know anyone who had a bad word to say about him, and that’s what makes this whole thing so horrendous: if a man as decent and so committed to the public good as David Amess can be literally cut to pieces – 12 knife wounds – while doing his constituency duty, no member of parliament is safe.”
Mosques in Southend have issued a joint statement mourning “the brutal and senseless killing” of David Amess, and hailing him as a friend to the area’s Muslim community.
The statement, published on the Essex Masjid website, remembered Amess as a politician who “celebrated the achievements” of the Muslim community and “shared in our happiness”.
The statement from the mosques says:
No 10 has tweeted photos of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the home secretary and the Speaker of the House of Commons laying flowers at the scene where David Amess was killed.
Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer were joined by Priti Patel and Lindsay Hoyle at Belfairs Methodist church on Saturday.
This is Damien Gayle taking over on the live blog for the next hour or so, while Jane has a break.
The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has extended condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of David Amess.
The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) has cancelled a scheduled plenary meeting at Westminster on Monday as a mark of respect for Sir David Amess, PA Media reports.
The assembly meets twice a year to provide a forum for parliamentarians across the UK, Ireland and the Crown dependencies to discuss issues of mutual interest.
In a joint statement, the co-chairs of the assembly, MP Andrew Rosindell and the Irish TD Brendan Smith, said:
The Southend Conservative councillor John Lamb said he would not change the way he engages with residents following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess.
He told PA Media:
MPs are calling for Southend to be given city status to honour a 21-year campaign by Amess.
Conservative MPs Chris Skidmore, Michael Fabricant, Victoria Prentis, James Duddridge and Labour’s Charlotte Nichols are among those backing the idea.
Replying to a tweet saying Southend should be given city status, Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, said: “Absolutely; I can’t think of a better way to honour his memory.”
Skidmore said Amess would “badger” him constantly about making Southend a city and had told him that it was his “one great ambition left in parliament”.
He added: “So with the jubilee next year, let’s give Southend city status and see Sir David’s final ambition realised.
“Tragically he will never see that moment happen, but it would be a fitting memorial to a man who dedicated his life, and ultimately laid it down for his community.”
The home secretary, Priti Patel, tweeted a tribute to Amess this morning.
Tributes continue for Sir David Amess.
PA Media reports:
She said: